SPILL NEWS: JUNO-NOMINATED ALTERNATIVE INDIE-ROCK DUO SOFTCULT RELEASE NEW SINGLE “SHE SAID, HE SAID” | DEBUT ALBUM ‘WHEN A FLOWER DOESN’T GROW’ AVAILABLE JANUARY 30

JUNO-NOMINATED ALTERNATIVE INDIE-ROCK DUO SOFTCULT RELEASE NEW SINGLE “SHE SAID, HE SAID” | DEBUT ALBUM WHEN A FLOWER DOESN’T GROW AVAILABLE JANUARY 30

EASY LIFE RECORDS

Softcult, the JUNO-nominated Ontario-based sibling duo featuring Mercedes (she/her) and Phoenix (they/them) Arn-Horn, have shared their powerful new single “She Said, He Said”, from their recently announced debut full-length album, When A Flower Doesn’t Grow, out January 30, 2026 via Easy Life Records. Pre-save/order the album HERE.

Speaking about the new single, vocalist Mercedes explains, “‘She Said, He Said’ is a song about believing survivors of assault. It’s known that SA cases are historically under-reported, and most victims don’t come forward for fear of being accused of lying. When survivors do come forward they are all too often blamed for encouraging the situation that led to the assault in the first place. Myths and bogus claims aiming to dismiss allegations of assault perpetuate misinformation that leads to mistrust and suspicion of survivors when they decide to share their stories. This culture of misogynistic skepticism contributes to the silencing of survivors, enabling predators to continue with their mistreatment while escaping accountability. This song tells a story that is all too familiar; the “nice guy” that coerces and pressures his victim instead of asking for consent.”

On the track’s accompanying official music video, Mercedes continues, “We wanted to create a visual that tackles this very poignant and nuanced subject matter in a respectful way, while still resonating and getting the intended message across. We decided to focus on the frustration many women feel when we tell traumatic stories and are met with suspicion and accusations. We chose an interrogation room setting to capture the feeling of “making a case” for our truth to be heard and believed. We included some Easter eggs referencing other videos from this album cycle, which represent a common theme of patriarchal oppression and abuse. The clues displayed as evidence on the interrogation room table lead directly to the anonymous male characters in other videos (Naive, 16/25). However, the detective fails to make the connection, blinded by patriarchal bias, and instead casts suspicion and classically blames the victim.”

“She Said, He Said”  joins previously released singles: “16/25”, a track confronting the  predatory behaviour of older men who groom younger women; “Naive”, a hauntingly honest exploration of disillusionment and emotional awakening; and “Pill To Swallow”, a searing, shoegaze anthem that confronts our world’s most uncomfortable truths with an almost-eerie clarity.

On their powerful debut album When A Flower Doesn’t Grow, Softcult deliver their most unflinching and transformative work yet. Written during a time of personal upheaval and self-discovery, the ten tracks on the new record explore cycles of abuse, conformity and systemic oppression, while honouring the courage it takes to break free.

SPILL FEATURE: RIGHTEOUS RAGE ON ONE SIDE AND CALMNESS AND GENTLENESS ON THE OTHER – A CONVERSATION WITH MERCEDES ARN-HORN OF SOFTCULT

“The truth is, nothing can thrive in an environment where it is stifled,” Mercedes reflects. “We can’t flourish in environments that are oppressive. We need the world around us to be an environment that encourages us to grow.”

The title draws from a quote that struck Mercedes during a pivotal moment: “When a flower doesn’t bloom, you fix the environment in which it grows, not the flower.” For Mercedes, those words resonated deeply as she ended a nine-year relationship, came out as queer, and began confronting the internalized oppression she’d long fought against publicly.

“The person I portrayed myself to be on stage was not the same person making the decisions that governed my life,” she explains. “I was root bound. I was disappearing, shrinking, withering away… and I felt ashamed of it.”

The result is a conceptual album chronicling the stages of inner metamorphosis; written from the perspective of someone radicalized by trauma, strengthened by resilience, and finally reborn into their true self.

Musically, Softcult continue to expand their rich blend of grunge, shoegaze, and alt-rock textures, weaving fuzz-laden riffs and dreamy soundscapes with raw, confessional lyricism. The result is both intimate and universal: a record for anyone who has ever felt trapped or diminished by their surroundings, and a rallying cry to nurture ourselves and each other in the pursuit of freedom and authenticity.

The album follows last year’s acclaimed Heaven EP, which flipped the concept of an afterlife on its head, critiquing a culture fixated on the future while ignoring the urgent need for change in the present. That release saw the duo land a JUNO Award nomination for ‘Alternative Album of the Year’, the cover of Spotify’s MARROW playlist (over 4.7 million followers) and embark on tours across North America, the UK, Europe, Australia, and Southeast Asia. Along the way they’ve won fans in artists like Hayley Williams and Bring The Horizon’s Oli Sykes, opened for Incubus and MUSE, and earned praise from outlets including Spill Magazine, Stereogum, BrooklynVegan, Paste, Consequence, Alternative Press, Kerrang!, CBC, The Gay Times and more.

Born in the studio and committed to carving out their own universe, Softcult embody a fiercely DIY ethos. Phoenix leads production, engineering, and artwork, while Mercedes writes, produces, directs, and edits their deeply personal, impactful videos. Together, they create and distribute their monthly zine SCripture and stay deeply connected to their community through the Softcult Discord server. Their music and message serve as constant reminders that the revolution is very much alive – proof that true liberation begins when we transform our environment and allow ourselves, and each other, to grow.

Softcult was recently announced as direct support for LIGHTS’ Come Get Your Girl North American Tour in 2026. The extensive run includes Canadian dates in Edmonton, Calgary, London, Ottawa, Quebec City and Montréal. See below for the full list of Canadian dates. Tickets are available to purchase HERE.

Tour Dates

Feb 13, 2026 – Edmonton, AB – Midway Music Hall
Feb 14, 2026 – Calgary, AB – MacEwan Hall
Mar 17, 2026 – London, ON – London Music Hall
Mar 18, 2026 – Ottawa, ON – The Bronson
Mar 19, 2026 – Quebec City, QC – Grizzly Fuzz
Mar 20, 2026 – Montréal, QC – Le Studio TD

*Supporting Lights

Artist Links

Main Photo Credit: Kaylene Widdoes